In his recent piece, Alex Nguepi argued that tribalism is frequently exploited in Cameroon to conceal economic failures.

« Those who have dedicated their financial resources to erecting residences, establishing factories, launching businesses, and creating enterprises are not obligated to offer any rationale to those who have chosen to passively observe, » Alex Nguepi articulated.

« The Bamileke people are under no obligation whatsoever to justify their ownership of land, homes, or businesses in Douala, Yaoundé, or any other region across Cameroon. This nation does not belong exclusively to any single tribe, community, or specific group. It is the shared heritage of all Cameroonians.

Major urban centers such as Douala and Yaoundé were not developed by a solitary ethnic group. Their growth is the culmination of taxes, sacrifices, diligent labor, and the sheer effort of millions of Cameroonians originating from every corner of the country. No individual or group holds a monopoly on Cameroonian citizenship.

The straightforward truth, which some are unwilling to acknowledge, is this: the Bamileke have cultivated a robust culture of saving, engaging in commerce, making strategic investments, and building lasting wealth. While some choose to consume, others prioritize investment. As some spend, others are actively building. And while some invent excuses for their stagnation, others are working tirelessly to secure the future for their children.

The aspiration of many young people from the West region extends beyond merely inheriting the family home. Their ambition is to construct their own dwellings, establish their own enterprises, and leave a meaningful legacy for subsequent generations. This drive explains why they acquire land, develop properties, open commercial ventures, and generate employment wherever opportunities arise.

Therefore, it is absurd to attempt to transform the economic success of any community into a political issue. Individuals who have invested their capital in establishing homes, factories, businesses, and companies are not accountable to those who opted for inaction.

The genuine scandal is not the widespread construction by Cameroonians within their own country. Rather, the true outrage lies in the fact that after many decades in power, certain leaders continue to pit Cameroonians against each other as a means to obscure their own poor economic and social performance.

When the national economy falters, when unemployment rates surge, when poverty intensifies, and opportunities diminish, the purveyors of hatred invariably resort to the same divisive tactics: tribalism, claims of indigeneity, and fostering division. This is a common strategy employed by regimes nearing their end cycle, regimes that have exhausted all viable solutions for their populace.

Cameroon requires not tribalists, but builders. It needs citizens who are prepared to invest, establish businesses, pay their taxes, generate employment, and contribute actively to the nation’s wealth.

A nation’s progress is driven by its entrepreneurs, its farmers, its industrialists, its merchants, and its laborers. It does not advance through hateful rhetoric, envy, or attempts at stigmatization.

Let everyone build. Let everyone invest. Let everyone create wealth. And Cameroon will undoubtedly move forward.

The future belongs to the builders. Those who sow discord, however, are destined for the dustbin of history.

Alex Nguepi »